Title: Trump vs. EU Law: German Leader Tells Musk's X to Obey or Pay

**Article:** Germany's opposition leader has a clear message for former U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk: Follow European rules. The statement comes after Trump criticized a major European Union fine against X, the social media platform owned by Musk. The EU penalized X for failing to control illegal content and disinformation, a breach of the new Digital Services Act (DSA). Friedrich Merz, head of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, rejected Trump's complaint. He insisted that all American companies operating in Europe must obey European law. "European law applies on European soil," Merz stated. The DSA requires large online platforms to aggressively police their content. The fine against X is one of the first major tests of the powerful new EU regulations. European officials say the rules are designed to protect users' rights and democratic processes. Merz's position highlights a growing transatlantic divide on how to govern big tech companies. The conflict suggests that X and other U.S. tech giants will face continued pressure and penalties in Europe if they do not follow the bloc's strict standards.